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A problem with no easy answer
 Dan Barry's articles always have a way of tearing me up (check out his book, City Lights - Stories About New York). This one really got to me. And this story also reminded me of how very fragile we are. No easy answers to any of this. |
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Honeywell notices Nest
 And decides to challenge them. Here's a bit about the lawsuit. This should be interesting. |
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One of the drawbacks of district heating
 I remain a huge fan of these huge systems. They make lots of sense these days, but when something goes wrong, it goes wrong for a lot of people, and often at the worst possible time. Here's the story. |
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MIT as solar landscaper
 Leave it to the brains at MIT to figure out how to turn your lawn clippings into electricity. My feeble brain can't hold much more from these brilliant people. |
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Liquid wood
 As always, thanks to prolific subscriber, Robert O'Brien, for sending in this story. We sure are getting creative these days! |
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Living in the Iron Age
 This article caught my eye, mainly because of my buddy, Clif Heeney, an American expat, who now lives with his family in Estonia. I shared it with Clif and asked him if he'd seen the story. This is what he had to say, "Yes we have read several stories about this adventure and learning experience by these students. I bet they wished they had picked a different week, though. A few weeks ago temps were hovering around -5 C day and night. Last night it was -28 C in Tartu, which is in the center of Estonia. We are expecting temps down to -32 C on Saturday and Sunday nights. "The hut that they rebuilt does not have a chimney, which was the common style in that period. That led to what we call a smoke sauna. These were even popular up until the 1930s. The smoke was not vented into a chimney and the smoke inside the sauna hut (usually a separate small building), gradually warmed up the stone floor and logs walls. When it reached about 80 - 90 C, a small window was opened up high on one wall, with the door left slightly open until most of the smoke was drawn out. Then the sauna commenced, with some smoke still in the room. Water was heated in the stove for later use in washing yourself. The stove was a rudimentary affair and vented the smoke directly into the sauna room. "The first room in a sauna hut was a small changing room and also where you came out of the sauna and enjoyed refreshments, then the actual sauna room. "I have taken smoke sauna once in a sauna hut that dates back over a hundred years. "Thanks for thinking of me and sending me this link. I had not seen this one, but read about these students on news websites here." |
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The Art of Work
 Here's another reason why Clif Heeney is one of my favorite people. He shared that wonderful story with me so that I could share it with you. There is a majesty in the people who do the sort of work that this Parisian piano man does, and because they hang on as long as possible, the world is richer. Thanks, Clif. |
